This directive covers the management of wastewater and solid waste for the production of antibiotics and goes ahead High-level meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) will be held at the United Nations General Assembly later this month in New York.
AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines. This is mainly due to the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials, even though many people around the world do not have access to these essential medicines.
The effectiveness of antibiotics is weakened.
WHO speak The emergence and spread of AMR due to antibiotic contamination could undermine the effectiveness of antibiotics globally, including those produced at contaminated manufacturing sites.
However, although high levels of antibiotic contamination have been widely documented, the problem remains largely unregulated and quality assurance standards often do not address environmental releases.
Additionally, consumers are not provided with adequate information on how to dispose of unused antibiotics, for example when the medication has expired or when a course of antibiotics has ended but there is still some medicine left over.
Potential new threats
“Pharmaceutical waste from antibiotic production may facilitate the emergence of new drug-resistant bacteriacould spread globally and threaten our health,” said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for AMR. temporary advertising.
“Controlling pollution from antibiotic production helps maintain the effectiveness of these life-saving drugs for everyone,” she added.
Globally, there is a lack of easily accessible information on the environmental damage caused by drug manufacturing, the WHO said, noting that several international bodies have called for guidance, including health ministers from the G7 leading economies as well as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Environmental action is important.
“The role of the environment in the development, transmission and spread of antibiotic resistance needs to be carefully considered as evidence mounts.Jacqueline Alvarez, Head of UNEP’s Industry and Economics Section, said.
“There is broad consensus that environmental action must become more prominent as a solution. This includes preventing and controlling pollution from urban systems, manufacturing sites, health care facilities and the agri-food system,” she added.
About the instructions
The new guidance was developed in close collaboration with a wide range of international expert groups, including representatives from academia, regulators, inspectors, international organisations and other sectors.
It provides human health-based targets to reduce the risk of AMR emergence and spread, as well as targets to address risks to aquatic organisms posed by all antibiotics used in humans, animals or plants.
Furthermore, all steps from active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production and formulation into finished product, including primary packaging, are covered.
“The guidance provides an independent and objective scientific basis for regulators, purchasers, inspectors and industry itself to include strong antibiotic contamination controls in their standards“Dr Maria Neira, Director of WHO’s Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, said.
“Importantly, a strong focus on transparency will help buyers, investors and the public make decisions that take into account manufacturers’ efforts to control antibiotic contamination.”
